GRAPPLERS HAVE STRONG SHOWING AT STATE

Though it would have been a monumental challenge, Christensen was hoping to finally get a chance to tussle with Lemoore’s Isaiah Martinez, the eventual 160-pound winner and a three-time state champion. The two didn’t clash at State, and they didn’t meet on the mat at Temecula Valley’s Battle for the Belt tournament in January.

“He is a little bit disappointed in that,” Paino said of missing Martinez again. “In the end, he will be happy. All the disappointments, he will forget about.”

Temecula Valley’s Christian Root (106), Elsinore’s Dustin Kirk (120) and Great Oak’s Carter Armendarez (145) all lost in their opening consolation match with a medal at stake and failed to place. Kirk and Ar-mendarez didn’t reach the podium despite making it to the championship quarterfinals in their respective weight classes.